Hibiscus plant named ‘Arionicus’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Arionicus’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant form; dense and bushy plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely, uniform and continuous flowering habit; large red-colored flowers with dark red purple-colored centers; good flower longevity; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ARIONICUS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Arionicus’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new strong Hibiscus plants with attractive and long-lasting flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination in December, 2007 in Sabro, Denmark of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Camaro’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2006-4715, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in July, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark since September, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Arionicus’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Arionicus’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant form.     -   2. Dense and bushy plant habit.     -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely, uniform and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Large red-colored flowers with dark red purple-colored         centers.     -   6. Good flower longevity.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Camaro’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Camaro’ in flower size and longevity as plants of the new Hibiscus have larger and longer-lasting flowers than plants of ‘Camaro’. In addition, leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus have crenate margins whereas leaves of plants ‘Camaro’ have serrate margins.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower size and color as plants of the male parent selection have small dark pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Cairo Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sabro, Denmark, plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Cairo Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus were brighter red in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Cairo Red’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus were longer lasting         than flowers of plants of ‘Cairo Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Arionicus’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of typical developing flower buds and a fully opened flower of ‘Arionicus’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time about seven weeks after planting and were 22 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Arionicus’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Camaro’,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2006-4715, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures of 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven             weeks at temperatures of 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight             weeks at temperatures of 24° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close             to 158A.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly             spreading plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about four to six             lateral branches develop; pinching enhances lateral branch             development; dense and bushy plant habit.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm to 55 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm to 50 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 15 cm to 25 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Woody.         -   Color.—Close to N199A and 197A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly cordate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate to acuminate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137B; venation, close to 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to             3 mm. Texture, upper surface: Pubescent. Texture, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to N199A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and arrangement.—Rounded flowers with imbricate             petals arranged singly at terminal leaf axils; uniform,             continuous and freely flowering habit with numerous flower             buds and/or open flowers per plant at one time; flowers face             mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last for             about two to three days; flowers persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or             during periods of warm weather; plants flower year-round in             the greenhouse; plants begin flowering about 13 to 15 weeks             after pinching.         -   Flower diameter.—About 15 cm to 19 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about two             days. Length: About 5 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm to             2.5 cm. Shape: Ovate to lanceolate. Color: Close to N34A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five imbricate             petals in a single whorl. Length: About 10 cm to 12 cm.             Width: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture,             upper surface: Glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface:             Glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to N44A or 45B; at the base, close to 59A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 45A. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to N44A or 45B; at the base, close to 59A. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 45B; with development, color             becomes closer to 45C.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a             campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.             Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Rough. Texture,             lower surface: Smooth. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A             to 144C. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Angle: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 100. Filament length: About 2.5 mm. Filament color:             Close to 55A. Anther shape: Rounded to ovate. Anther length:             About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 22B. Amount of             pollen: Moderate to abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17A.             Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 9 cm. Style length: About             8 cm. Style texture: Smooth, waxy. Style color: Towards the             apex, close to 55A; mid-section, close to 46B; towards the             base, close to 53A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded.             Stigma color: Close to 46B. Ovary color: Close to 145A and             2C.         -   Seeds.—Quantity produced per flower: None to ten. Length:             About 3 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Color:             Close to N200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 30° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus. 

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Arionicus’ as illustrated and described. 